Red Cross looking for blood donors

Soaring temperatures and the school summer vacation has put blood supplies at low levels.

The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross has issued an urgent appeal for donors.

There is a critical need for blood donors now, said Red Cross officials. That's because this summer the Red Cross has had a difficult time recruiting enough blood donors to meet the requirements of local hospitals and the patients they serve.

According to Joyce H. Brendel, chief executive officer for the Carolinas Blood Services Region of which Wayne County is a part, there has been 13 percent fewer donors than the Red Cross had anticipated.

Blood of all types is needed, but especially O negative. That's because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, and is the type most frequently given to patients in emergency and trauma situations, according to Ms. Brendel.

Donors may give at these Wayne County blood drives:

Today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Butterball LLC of Mount Olive, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Goldsboro and from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at Mount Olive Presbyterian Church.

Aug. 29 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Garris Chapel United Methodist Church.

Aug. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Employees Credit Union on Berkeley Boulevard.